One of the most consumed beverages in the world, coffee consumption is rising yearly. The popularity of coffee has raised questions regarding the origin of the beans, though. Customers who want to make sure that the coffee they eat is produced in a way that is socially responsible, environmentally friendly, and economically viable are increasingly concerned about ethical sourcing. This page will examine coffee bean sourcing ethics and provide some related information.
Coffee that is produced according to particular ethical criteria is said to be ethically sourced. Fair labor methods, environmental sustainability, and farmer economic viability are some of these principles. Coffee businesses can demonstrate the ethical sourcing of their coffee beans by obtaining a variety of certifications. The Fair Trade, Rainforest Alliance, and UTZ certifications are some of the most well-known.
One of the biggest coffee companies in the world, Starbucks, has pledged to only purchase beans that have been responsibly grown. Starbucks has committed to sourcing all of its coffee beans responsibly by the year 2020, and they have already made great strides in that direction. Coffee farmers receive financial assistance from Starbucks to help them expand their businesses while also ensuring fair labor conditions and environmental sustainability.
McDonald’s sells a line of coffee items under the McCafé brand. Although McDonald’s coffee and McCafé coffee are both brewed using the same coffee beans, they are not always the same thing. McCafé coffee is often more expensive than standard McDonald’s coffee and is frequently marketed as a higher-end coffee product.
McDonald’s has pledged to only purchase coffee beans that have been ethically and sustainably grown. McDonald’s does engage with coffee farmers to promote fair labor practices and environmental sustainability, while not having a formal Fairtrade accreditation. McDonald’s has also committed to obtaining all of its coffee beans from environmentally friendly sources by the year 2020.
In conclusion, coffee buyers around the world are increasingly concerned about the ethical procurement of coffee beans. Coffee beans are produced in a way that complies with ethical norms according to certifications like Fair Trade, Rainforest Alliance, and UTZ. While McDonald’s has made efforts to ensure that their coffee beans are produced in an ethical and sustainable manner, Starbucks has made a considerable commitment to sourcing ethically produced coffee beans. By purchasing coffee products that are either certified or made by businesses that pledge to ethical sourcing, we as customers can support this practice.